Seas Idunn DIY Speaker Build Log (FINALLY FINISHED)

[rhyseyness]

1 hour ago, Dackzy said:

Well I am not a woodworking god, but yes you should be very happy. A lot of people just quit before the get to the stage where it is starting to look good and have a nice finish to it. I am glad that you aren't one of those people.

I think the nicer you make the finish the more you are going to want to keep them, while if you made them ugly then you kinda want to get rid of them within a year or two. That is at least my experience.

Definitely.

Not only that, but the more work you put in, the more "love" you have for them imo.

I mean right now, I hate them with all my being, but when they're done, I will like them a lot more for all the blood sweat and tears that have gone into them.

Glad someone who knows a thing or two about woodwork is agreeing with what I'm doing 

[Dackzy]

10 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Definitely.

Not only that, but the more work you put in, the more "love" you have for them imo.

I mean right now, I hate them with all my being, but when they're done, I will like them a lot more for all the blood sweat and tears that have gone into them.

Glad someone who knows a thing or two about woodwork is agreeing with what I'm doing 

 

Yeah I know that feeling, I actually kinda miss woodworking now... Maybe I should do something over the summer, just not something quite as expensive as your speakers. Maybe a new desktop or a cabinet...

I have had one of the best teachers and role model I could have ever wished for when it comes to crafting things and just life in general....

 

I bet these speakers are going to stick with you for a long time, even if you stop using them at some point I bet you will have them stored safely away. It is a very good learning experience that gives you some skills you can use later in life.

[rhyseyness]

Day 33/34

 

Big day yesterday.

Falcon acoustics delivery arrived, with all my crossover components and the drivers.

Built the crossovers up and got the second coat of "touch up paint" on.

Today so far I've got one coat of clear on, and will be applying another one later if it's dried enough.

If not I'll wait until tomorrow... at this point, I don't mind an extra couple of days waiting, if it'll make the final sanding job easier.

Photos always tell the story better than I can, so here's some (didn't get any today):

Spoiler

After sanding the first paint coat.

 

As above

 

Sprayed on a second coat.

 

Looking decent.

 

Coat 2 all finished

 

Curry and beer break

 

Delivery from Falcon

 

Cut mounts for the crossovers. Ensured they were the right size for fitting through the woofer hole, so I can actually mount them inside.

 

Set up a work bench at my table.

 

Working out the final layout, using the schematic (circuit diagram). The sheet of paper was cut to ensure I didn't make it too wide.

 

Soldered up all the connections and attached speaker wire to the inputs and outputs. Labelled them to make sure I don't get them the wrong way round.

 

Hot glued down the components to the board.

 

Made a bit of a mess, lol.

 

Ta-da!

 

Job done

Motivation is back.

3 or 4 more coats of clear, then I can mount everything and I think it'll be done just in time for buying the amp

Can't wait!!

[rhyseyness]

Day 35

 

So it all went horribly wrong again today, yay!

Went up to the shed this morning to sand and put on another coat of clear to find the first coat had completely fucked up.

See photos below.

I think this was caused by trying to get too thick of a coat on in one go.

So spent today sanding down that mess and re touching all the new bits on ONE unit.

Going to do the other tomorrow and then do the next coat of clear on Tuesday.

Deep joy...

 

Spoiler

Deep joy

 

"It'll be fine when it's sanded down, then I can just do that coat again..."

 

"This takes so long to sand down"

 

Surprisingly OK finish over most of the face after sanding (apart from the bottom right corner). This took about an hour (yes, just this one face).

 

More sanding.

 

Read for re-re-re-re-re-touch up.

 

Hopefully I'll get away with this... Stay tuned to find out!

 

[Dackzy]

55 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Day 35

 

So it all went horribly wrong again today, yay!

Went up to the shed this morning to sand and put on another coat of clear to find the first coat had completely fucked up.

See photos below.

I think this was caused by trying to get too thick of a coat on in one go.

So spent today sanding down that mess and re touching all the new bits on ONE unit.

Going to do the other tomorrow and then do the next coat of clear on Tuesday.

Deep joy...

 

  Hide contents

Deep joy

 

"It'll be fine when it's sanded down, then I can just do that coat again..."

 

"This takes so long to sand down"

 

Surprisingly OK finish over most of the face after sanding (apart from the bottom right corner). This took about an hour (yes, just this one face).

 

More sanding.

 

Read for re-re-re-re-re-touch up.

 

Hopefully I'll get away with this... Stay tuned to find out!

 

 

 

do you need a painting class?  

[rhyseyness]

1 hour ago, Dackzy said:

do you need a painting class?  

I need many painting classes, lol

[Dackzy]

9 hours ago, rhyseyness said:

I need many painting classes, lol

you were using spray paint, right? If so just do a lot of thin coats, it is quite easy ones you get the hang of it.

[rhyseyness]

44 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

you were using spray paint, right? If so just do a lot of thin coats, it is quite easy ones you get the hang of it.

I know, I know.

I was rushing it

Won't be doing that again 

[rhyseyness]

Day 36

 

Did the second speaker (removing all the shit clear coat) yesterday.

Ready for re-clear coating today after a quick sand.

No photos, looks same as the first

Planning 4 coats of clear, one a day, so should be doing last coat on Friday.

Then going to leave it to dry for a week, and then start finishing next Friday.

However, I've planned to finish many many times, and haven't, so we'll see 

[rhyseyness]

Day 37

 

Sanded down post painting yesterday.

That went really well and no primer or anything came through, so they were ready for clear coat

Unfortunately, when I applied the clear coat (this time making sure I was far enough away with the spray and wasn't putting it on too thick), the same wrinkling happened again... not nearly as bad as last time, but still very obvious.

Plan is to sand this down as much as possible without cutting through to the paint, then powering through with more clear coat.

I think it must be something to do with a reaction between the paint and the clear (from what I've read), however, this didn't happen the very first time I applied clear, so I'm pretty confused, lol.

Fingers crossed today goes better and I can apply a second coat of clear without it doing this again.

We shall see.

Couple of photos below, but didn't get any of the clear coat wrinkling up... was too sad to take photos 

 

Spoiler

All sanded down ready for clear coat.

 

Was really pleased with the finish. Thought it was exactly how it was supposed to be before clear coat... Maybe I was wrong, lol.

 

[Dackzy]

1 hour ago, rhyseyness said:

Day 37

 

Sanded down post painting yesterday.

That went really well and no primer or anything came through, so they were ready for clear coat

Unfortunately, when I applied the clear coat (this time making sure I was far enough away with the spray and wasn't putting it on too thick), the same wrinkling happened again... not nearly as bad as last time, but still very obvious.

Plan is to sand this down as much as possible without cutting through to the paint, then powering through with more clear coat.

I think it must be something to do with a reaction between the paint and the clear (from what I've read), however, this didn't happen the very first time I applied clear, so I'm pretty confused, lol.

Fingers crossed today goes better and I can apply a second coat of clear without it doing this again.

We shall see.

Couple of photos below, but didn't get any of the clear coat wrinkling up... was too sad to take photos 

 

  Hide contents

All sanded down ready for clear coat.

 

Was really pleased with the finish. Thought it was exactly how it was supposed to be before clear coat... Maybe I was wrong, lol.

 

 

 

why don't you just keep them without that clear coat? Or do you really want that piano black finish? 

[rhyseyness]

42 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

why don't you just keep them without that clear coat? Or do you really want that piano black finish? 

Desperate for piano black.

The finish with paint alone doesn't look half as good, and also half of it is still clear coated from before.

I'd end up with piano black over most of the face, and matte edges, lol.

If it gets any worse, I'll consider going for a different finish.

[klh2000]

6 hours ago, rhyseyness said:

Desperate for piano black.

The finish with paint alone doesn't look half as good, and also half of it is still clear coated from before.

I'd end up with piano black over most of the face, and matte edges, lol.

If it gets any worse, I'll consider going for a different finish.

The wrinkles in the clear coat are probably due to poor adhesion with the base coat, not much you can really do when using clear coat from a spray can. If all else fails, just glue some veneer on there and it'll be fine.

[rhyseyness]

3 hours ago, klh2000 said:

The wrinkles in the clear coat are probably due to poor adhesion with the base coat, not much you can really do when using clear coat from a spray can. If all else fails, just glue some veneer on there and it'll be fine.

Hahaha, all this work and just glue veneer on...

Funny, but more funny because it doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.

If it all goes to shit again, I'll certainly be considering it.

 

Thanks for the info on the clear coat though.

Maybe best not to sand the final coat of paint after all (bumpier for better adhesion?)

I certainly feel better that there's nothing I can do about it and it wasn't my fault as such 

[klh2000]

1 minute ago, rhyseyness said:

Hahaha, all this work and just glue veneer on...

Funny, but more funny because it doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.

If it all goes to shit again, I'll certainly be considering it.

 

Thanks for the info on the clear coat though.

Maybe best not to sand the final coat of paint after all (bumpier for better adhesion?)

I certainly feel better that there's nothing I can do about it and it wasn't my fault as such 

You could use a 3M fine scuff pad on the final layer of base coat, and just make sure the ambient temperature is within the recommendations of the clear coat.

[rhyseyness]

14 hours ago, klh2000 said:

You could use a 3M fine scuff pad on the final layer of base coat, and just make sure the ambient temperature is within the recommendations of the clear coat.

Excellent advice.

I'll certaily do that next time

Cheers.

 

Day 38

 

Sanded down and applied more clear coat yesterday.

Still aiming to be done with clear by Friday and then start finishing the following Friday.

Not long to go now if all goes to plan (as if it will all go to plan )

[rhyseyness]

Day 39/40

 

So yesterday I sanded down with 2500 grit and applied another coat of clear.

Going to do this over and over until I run out of clear coat, and if it's still not good enough, I'll buy more paint.

They're starting to look better with every coat now.

I'm getting excited again.

Not long left.

Once the finish is good, and I feel like there's enough coats on, I'll leave them to dry for about a week then give them a final sand.

Currently looking at about 6 coats of clear I think.

I've done 3 so far, doing the 4th today.

Apologies for the lack of photos recently, I'll try and get some this afternoon/evening

[rhyseyness]

Day 40/41

 

Applied coat 5 of clear today, after sanding 4 from yesterday.

Got some photos, as promised, lol.

I think one more coat tomorrow and I can start final sanding a week later

Excited!!

 

Spoiler

Sanding down between coats.

 

Sanded af.

 

Coat 4 of clear.

 

The bit that looks like wood coming through around the edge isn't. Just the way the light is reflecting off the face.

 

 Fingers crossed this is the one...

 

[klh2000]

2 hours ago, rhyseyness said:

Day 40/41

 

Applied coat 5 of clear today, after sanding 4 from yesterday.

Got some photos, as promised, lol.

I think one more coat tomorrow and I can start final sanding a week later

Excited!!

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Sanding down between coats.

 

Sanded af.

 

Coat 4 of clear.

 

The bit that looks like wood coming through around the edge isn't. Just the way the light is reflecting off the face.

 

 Fingers crossed this is the one...

 

Looking good

 

 

 

[Dackzy]

2 hours ago, rhyseyness said:

Day 40/41

 

Applied coat 5 of clear today, after sanding 4 from yesterday.

Got some photos, as promised, lol.

I think one more coat tomorrow and I can start final sanding a week later

Excited!!

 

  Hide contents

Sanding down between coats.

 

Sanded af.

 

Coat 4 of clear.

 

The bit that looks like wood coming through around the edge isn't. Just the way the light is reflecting off the face.

 

 Fingers crossed this is the one...

 

starting to look quite good  

[rhyseyness]

28 minutes ago, klh2000 said:

Looking good

 

12 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

starting to look quite good  

Thanks dudes

[rhyseyness]

Day 42 (My God)

 

Sanded down coat 5 and applied what is hopefully my final coat of clear today.

Now just gotta wait for a week before final sanding.

Fingers are tightly crossed it all goes well.

6 coats of clear... surely I can't possibly sand through all that 

[rhyseyness]

Ordered the amp and some foam pads today.

Going to start the final sanding tomorrow evening, as that will be 5 days drying (in the current heat, should be plenty!)

Very very excited!!

[Dackzy]

8 hours ago, rhyseyness said:

Ordered the amp and some foam pads today.

Going to start the final sanding tomorrow evening, as that will be 5 days drying (in the current heat, should be plenty!)

Very very excited!!

what amp?

Also better start making room for those speakers  

[rhyseyness]

19 hours ago, Dackzy said:

what amp?

Also better start making room for those speakers  

Yamaha A-S501.

I have a temporary plan to make space for them

Involves cutting out a section of my current storage.

Long term, gonna re-arrange and redecorate the whole room